Archbishop Gomez: avoid ‘dead end’ on immigration reform

Last updated on: February 21, 2014 at 7:58 pm by CNA Daily News

Archbishop Gomez: avoid ‘dead end’ on immigration reform 2014-02-21T19:58:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Los Angeles, Calif., Feb 21, 2014 / 12:58 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- L.A. Archbishop José H. Gomez has called for “interim measures” such as a moratorium on immigration raids and help for undocumented minors in order to bypass immigration reform’s apparent “political dead end.”

“These two proposals are no substitute for true immigration reform — but they would make a big difference in the lives of millions of our neighbors,” Archbishop Gomez said in his Nov. 21 column for the Los Angeles archdiocese’s newspaper The Tidings.

He voiced disappointment in the House of Representatives’ recent decision not to move forward with immigration reform proposals at the current time.

Saying the interim measures would help “ease suffering,” the archbishop called on Congress to approve a moratorium on deportations and immigration raids and arrests, except for violent criminals.

“Since 2008, our government has deported nearly two million people and nearly a half million more are locked up in immigration detention centers,” he said, emphasizing that these are “real people.”

“One in every four persons who is being arrested or deported is being ripped out of their homes — taken away from their children, their wives and husbands, all their relatives,” the archbishop said.

He added that two-thirds of the 11 million undocumented immigrants have been living in the U.S. for at least a decade.

“The vast majority pose no criminal danger to our community. Just the opposite,” he said. “They are going to church and working alongside us, paying taxes, making our country and our communities stronger.”

Archbishop Gomez said the U.S. should also help the “dreamers,” children born in a foreign country but brought to the U.S. by their immigrant parents when they were young. Their name comes from the proposed federal DREAM Act, which would regularize their status.

“It’s cruel, and it serves no purpose, to keep denying these kids any legal status,” he said. “They’ve been here their whole lives. It’s time we welcome them as citizens and give them the opportunities they need to help our country grow.”

He said a just society “cannot punish innocent children for the crimes of their parents.”

The archbishop emphasized that these proposals are not a substitute for “true immigration reform” but would make a “big difference in the lives of millions of our neighbors.”

True reform, he said, would provide “a generous path to citizenship” for the undocumented.

“A just and compassionate society can’t allow an underclass of people to keep growing at the margins of our society, living in constant fear of arrest, without rights or reasons to hope,” he said, urging continued prayers for the United States and its leaders.

He concluded by encouraging Catholics to ask the Virgin Mary to “give us the courage to always do what is right and just.”

Previous Post

February 21, 2014

Venezuela cardinal asks government to rein in armed groups

Next Post

February 21, 2014 Knights urge prayers to St. Francis for peace in Ukraine

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the Christian approach to enemies?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Curse them Fight with them Pray for them Avoid them